A hydraulic press with dedicated loading applications may experience off-center loading. During the process, the tooling and loading should be given at the time of press design and compensation for the off-center loading is engineered into the structure and hydraulic design.To further define dedicated loading, we can subdivide into selective and non-selective applications.

Non-Selective Loading

In applications such as progressive die applications, multiple dies or stations are present in the press at the same time and are actuated simultaneously during each cycle of the press. This is referred to as Dedicated Non-Selective Loading.The press can be designed to handle the specific off-center load through hydraulic and/or structural modifications. This type of system usually results in lower up front costs but results in a press system that is dedicated to and limited to the specific application.

Selective Loading

Selective off-center loading is ideal for manufacturers that want to consolidate multiple processes into a single press system whereby 2, 3, 4 or more dies are always present in a press but only one die set is loaded and actuated per cycle. By utilizing traditional on/off valving and structural balancing, the press manufacturer can electronically shift the press force to center over different locations on the press bed. The operator then “selects” a specific die to be “active” during a given cycle. In addition to decreasing or eliminating die set up time selective off-center loading is an effective solution to save floor space by displacing multiple presses.

Whether the end user’s application requires dedicated off-center loading, or a more advanced active level control, emerging technologies in the field of hydraulics are being implemented to insure part quality, reduce die wear and reduce complex setup time.This technology is transforming what was once considered an obstacle, into a reliable method for meeting our customer’s off-center loading needs.